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24.01.2022 Virus testing list expands Dr Lachlan Fraser, Marysville general practitioner, writes: Those people who should be tested for coronavirus has expanded. ... Testing for suspected coronavirus is now for any age who have respiratory illness or fever (>38 degrees), OR who have had contact with a person with coronavirus and have general aches or gastrointestinal symptoms, OR have no symptoms and are within a localised outbreak. Most of our cases have come from overseas travellers, including cruise ships, with only a small number found in the community with no risk factors. Expanded swabbing is to identify and control spread from within the community. It is particularly important to have a diagnosis if there are people in the household who are still attending work, or if there are multiple people in the house. Self-isolation by staying at home, away from fellow householders, is required for 10-14 days, depending on symptom duration. Health workers need two negative swabs to return to work. We are aiming for zero or negligible community spread before the restrictions can start to be relaxed. Victorians are doing very well, with the State of Emergency to be reassessed on May 11. That’s only a few weeks away and if you keep busy each week passes quick enough. Everyone needs to do their bit, for we are like The Whos trying to save our world. Consult that great doctor, Dr. Seuss, who penned Horton Hears a Who. Dr. Lachlan Fraser, Marysville https://www.dindi.com.au//04/20/virus-testing-list-expands/

16.01.2022 Just prior to his untimely death in August 1987, my father Jim Long penned his memoirs of his overseas service in the Middle East in World War II. The 33,700-wo...rd story sees an Australian working-class shoe store worker from Bendigo, volunteer for overseas military service http://long.com.au/wordpress/?page_id=302

12.01.2022 This is in no way expressed as a threat, but simply as a statement of fact.

12.01.2022 'Our First Obligation Is Hope'. That was the headline on the first issue of 'The Phoenix', a free weekly newspaper that we produced for the people of the bushfi...re recovery area after the 2009 Black Saturday fires. The first issue was just eight pages. It quickly grew to a community newspaper of more than 40 pages each week. The aim was simple: to give away a free $2000 package of local advertising to each of hundreds of local businesses, to get them back on their feet financially. Over 18 months, we gave away more than $1.3 million worth of totally free ads. It helped re-build the community from economic disaster. (If truth be told, we gave away about $100,000 more than we should have. That was to our own detriment, and it took us some years to recover. But, looking back, it was still the right thing to do) Fast forward 10-11 years. We predict the economic fall-out from the Coronavirus pandemic will be worse than the bushfires, Australia's biggest peace-time disaster. A lot of recovery will be needed. It's time again for a project like The Phoenix. This time around, we don't have the capacity to fund it ourselves. Local newspapers around the world have been taking a financial beating. But such a project would be a courageous and compassionate one for individual/s, companies and organisations to fund. There are possibilities for similar projects across Australia. The Local Paper covers a wide region in the north-east with a focus on the Murrindindi region. We are not going to shake the tin to raise funding for this project; that is for others more skilled with money than us. But we are at the ready to play our part as the community starts its massive rebuild. We begin that process with ... HOPE.

10.01.2022 Banyule continues as virus hot-spot The Banyule municipality which is headquartered at Greensborough remains as a trouble-spot for the Coronavirus. As at Su...nday, the City of Banyule has the second most COVID-19 cases of any local government area in Victoria. Banyule has 82 cases, surpassed only by Stonnington with 87 cases. A man, 80, died yesterday (Sat.) taking the Victorian death toll to 15. The total number of cases in Victoria is 1328 an increase of nine. The North-East tally, as at 11.59pm Saturday, was: Banyule 82 Whittlesea 22 Nillumbik 21 (adjusted down by one) Yarra Ranges 21 Mitchell 9 Mansfield 3 Strathbogie 2 Murrindindi 1 The day’s increase included three people diagnosed in mandatory quarantine in city hotels, who have recently arrived from overseas. The total number of cases is made up of 689 men and 639 women, with people aged from babies to their early nineties. There are 134 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission. Two cases attributed to community transmission have now been attributed to a known source after further investigation. Currently 29 people are in hospital, including 10 patients in intensive care.1188 people have recovered. More than 82,000 tests have been completed. Of the total 1328 cases, there have been 1053 in metropolitan Melbourne and 239 in regional Victoria. Several cases remain under investigation. Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Professor Brett Sutton (pictured), today said the increase in the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 over the weekend was to be expected due to the increase in testing. Victoria is increasing its testing for COVID-19. More testing means we get a clearer picture of how the virus is spreading and are able to take better steps to contain transmission. We thank those Victorians who overwhelmingly are doing the right thing by staying at home, but we must keep at it to save lives. Everyone who is unwell must isolate themselves and everyone who’s been told they’re in quarantine either as a returned traveller or close contact must do so. Physical distancing will save lives. Everyone needs to comply with restrictions in place to keep yourself, your loved ones and the whole community safe. Our message is clear: if you can stay home, you must stay home. The Department of Health and Human Services follows up and monitors all close contacts of confirmed cases and provides them with information and support. All close contacts must self-isolate for 14-days. There are only four reasons for Victorians to leave their home: food and supplies, medical care and care giving, exercise, and work or education. Police have strong powers to enforce these directions and can issue on the spot fines, including up to $1,652 for individuals and up to $9,913 for businesses. Under the State of Emergency people who don’t comply could also be taken to court and receive a fine of up to $20,000. Companies face fines of up to $100,000. https://www.dindi.com.au//banyule-continues-as-virus-hot-/

07.01.2022 Today's edition (86 pages, free, online) will be published this evening.